From May 20-22 project GYPREG partners met in Latvia
Hosting GYPREG partner meeting in Latvia
During May 20-22 partner institutions from Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Poland visited Latvia. On May 20 the project team from Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology organized a visit to the production plant of “KNAUF Latvia” and a gypsum quarry.
On May 21, in the city of Valmiera project partner meeting was held, during which we discussed current progress of the project and future plans. In a workshop format, we discussed laboratory experiments, field demonstration plans and stakeholder involvement, communication event plans, as well as the information necessary for a cost-effectiveness analysis in order to estimate the costs of larger-scale gypsum use in each of the project member states.
In the afternoon, we visited the company “VALMIERA GLASS”, where gypsum is obtained as a by-product from production processes. The project partners were interested in finding out whether such gypsum would be suitable for incorporation into agricultural soils with the aim of reducing eutrophication in water bodies.
On May 22, at the Nature House of the University of Latvia in Riga stakeholder meeting was held in cooperation with Interreg Europe project “Public-private governance of rivers and wetlands restoration and conservation as blue-green infrastructure (RIWET)”, where invited experts presented research and projects related to the potential of gypsum use in Latvia. Raimonds Kasparinskis (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) talked about soil diversity in Latvia and the processes affecting them. Ģirts Stinkulis (University of Latvia) explained how gypsum deposits were forme in Latvia. Jānis Bikše (University of Latvia) talked about springsand how they serve as indicators for agricultural impact. Ainis Lagzdiņš (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) in his presentation spoke about the potential to reduce phosphorus losses from agricultural lands, mentioning the activities implemented in the LIFE GoodWater IP project. Annija Emersone (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) spoke about phosphorus recovery from wastewater and surface water in agriculture. Each of the presentations provided insight into the potential of gypsum, water quality and opportunities to reduce eutrophication of water bodies, as well as sparked discussions about the common issues and differences in project partner countries
We are pleased with the rich event program and the active involvement of all GYPREG project partners, as well as the interest in the sources of gypsum available in Latvia!
A short video summarizing the event can be found here:
